Valve actuator



Dec. 9, 1947. E ETAL 2,432,172

VALVE ACTUATOR Filed Aug. 25, 1943 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 fsa .jbyz ffmy z INVENTOR5 ATTORNEYS I. N. REED ET AL.

VALVE ACTUATOR Dec. 9, 1947.

Filed Aug. 25, 1943 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 fsaacflfieed, INVENTORS J52: 2 JgT MQ WGZ ATTD RNEYE i. N. REED ETAL VALVE ACTUATOR s Sheets Sheet 5 Filed 1945 INVENTORS JmcNReed J07z7z KZYd M ATHJRNEY? X W Iv Patented Dec. 9, 1947 pNirE-u :jsr-Arss PATENT OFFICE VALVE ACTUATOR (Application-August 25, 1943,'-Serial No; 499 976 2. Claims.

1 .The invention relates toe valveand more especially to plug-valves.of theitypehdisclosed in Letters Patents; Nos. 1,894,196.- and-2,125.81 0, is-

,sued January 10, 1:933, and August 2,: 1938, re- -spectively.

-'Ihe primary object of the invention is the pro- .vision eta-valve of this character wherein detail refinements in the structural-set-lupare embodied over thesaideUnitedz StatessLetters Patents Nos. 1 894196 and-2,125,810, respectively, so that maximum efiiciency is had in the working of the valve and also the manufacture-ofthe valve'can be carried out with completeaccuracyand minimizingexpense for so-doing, as well as increasin production in less working periodsthan it would be the case in themanufacture of the valves forming the subject matterof theaforesaid patents.

Another object of the invention is the provission of a valve of this character wherein the valve .proper will have a continuous rise and fall upon opening and closing the said valve proper without liability of undue wear on the parts effecting such'rise and fall movements and at the same time enabling a simplified machin-ingrof the parts thereof.

-A further object of the invention is the provision of a valve of. this character. wherein the plug and its stemfor thevalve proper are separately connectedtogethenand this connection has a slight :play so 1 that ,.proper-,,centering action of the plug valve can: :betassured for the seating and unseating thereof withaccuracy.

A-stil1 further jobiect .of'theinvention is the -.provision ofzavalveiofthis characterwherein the seating surfaces for the valveproper are raised inorder. to give. clearance between the body for thesaid plug-and suchiplug whereby a space or clearance. is. aifordedlioriiise-in blowing out any i. accumulations that may: collect within the said ,body and this blowing out can she; had by the introduction -of;- steam or inert vapor through suitable plugged ports in the body, these plug ports being also-adaptable for .the establishment of vpressure circulation and thus theplug valve ipropercan be: sealed from the-b1y against line leakage.

Y-A stilliurt-her obiectof-the invention is the .provisionvof. a'valve of this'character wherein the raised. seating. surfaces for the Valve proper enables only; a relatively narrowv continuous ring ofseating ,surfaceiaround each port toinsure pressure: tightness when the plug is pressed. into its seats bythe valvemechanism and also these raised seating surfaces will be protected against corrosion i and can furnisha wiping action on the \plug to peel .off any vaccum-ulations which smight' ad-hereiwhen turning: the said plug from open .to-closed positions; :or reversely, i the small or m-inimumeseating gsurfacestfor the plug minimizes thesgrinding or lapping in to a finish-and thus being a;time saving elementifor this ,operation in the production thereof.

A still. further objecteofyther invention is the provisionnof .-a valvenof this character wherein l0 vthe plugvalve proper 'haS & substantiallyelliptical shaped opening passage gztherethrough .-resu-lting a ina maximumiareain the; portz-and at; the same timemaintainstrength to the wallsof; said port particularly when the (valve; propervis closed positionewhich! isparticularly true when the plug 1 is of the .;smalle st dimensions; for use 3 in. small valves.

A still further object 0f the invention is the provision- .of ya waive of this character :wherein numerous-detail features;censtitutingrefinements -over the;;$a/id1 Letters;-Batents-,Nos.-" 1,894,196; and 2,125i8'l0, respectively eassure efiiciency i the vworkingpf the: valvesand; the thuildingrthereof for service.

A still further object of gthee inventionr-is the provisions: of- 9. valve of this :characteri-which is comparatively sim-ple in .--its construction, I thorough-1y reliableaand efiicient in operation; strong, durable, ,a-nd inexpensive to manufacture.

"Wit-h; theserand other objectssinvview; the invention consists in the features of construction, combination and arrangement of parts-{as will be hereinafter more' fully described insdetaiLvi'llustrated in thesaccompanying drawing,:which dis- 35 closes the preferred-embodimentof the invention (and pointed out inthe claimshereunto appended.

In the accompanyingzdrawings:

Figure 1-is a: topgplanview: of the valve com structed in-i-accordanceswitn the invention,

:Figure 2 isza sectional-view taken, on the: line -2"2 of Figure 1, looking'iinithe direction-of the arrows.

Figures isa sectional View taken on the line 3- 3 of -Figure" 2; looking in the direction of'the arrows.

Figure 4 is;a sectional view on theJined-A of Figure 2, looking in the direction of. the arrows. Figure 5 isa detail sectional view: on ,the .line 50 5-5 of Figure .lookinglin. theidirection of the arrows.

Figure .6. is an ,enlarged t vertical transversetsectional View through the body ,of thevalve showing in ,detail the ,centerin goof the plug in1 the .face 55 therefor within thee-body, and

Figure 7 isra fragmentary side-elevation;partly ject matter of United States Letters Patents Nos.

1,894,196 and 2,125.810. respectively, and comprises a body In provided with ports II and a tapered seat l2 to receive a plug l3 which is the valve element proper. The taper of the valve plug l3 matches the taper of the seat l2 and this plug l3 has an approximately elliptical shape passage 14 to be moved into and out of register with the ports II by the rotation of the said-plug J3. The seat l2 has provided therein raised seating surfaces, l5 which provide clearances l6 betweenthewalls I! of the plug l3. The body 10 at the seat 12 for the plug l3 and below the latter has formed therewith a basin l 8 formed with a center drain opening lB'accommodating a removable plug 20. with the clearances IS. The body I also has in opposite sides thereof above the ports ll perforated bosses 2| closed by removable plugs 22 and these bosses are above the plug valve l3. The purpose of the perforated bosses 2| on removal of the plugs 22 is to enable the'flushing of the valve body as is a similar case with respect to the opening l9 on removal of the plug 20.

The body Ill in alignment with the seat l2 for the plug valve l3 is formed with an upstanding cylindrical bonnet receiving extension 23 having fitted thereto a bonnet 24, the latter being removable through the use of nut carrying bolts 25. Centrally of this bonnet is a packing gland 23 through which passes a stem 21 for the plug l3. This stem 21 is formed at its lower end with an enlarged externally threaded coupling head 28 for loose threaded connection in a threaded socket 29 provided in the upper end of the plug 13. The purpose of the loose threaded connection between the plug [3 and the stem 21 is to assure proper seating or centering of the plug l3 in its seat I2. The head 28 has fitted between it and the socket 29 therefor round shear pins 30 to retain the threaded connection of the stem 21 with the plug l3.

Formed with the bonnet 24 and rising therefrom is a yoke 3| provided with an annular head 32 concentric to the stem 2'! and fitted in this head is a rotating member 33 which is splined or keyed at 34 to the said stem 27. The rotating member 33 has a cam trackway 35 therein for accommodating diametrically opposed tracking shoes 36, only one being shown and each is formed with a round pin extension 38 snugly fitting a bushing 33 threaded in the head 32. This pin extension 38 carries a nut 40 for the fitting of the pin extension 38 in the bushing; The bushing 39 and the nut 40 are tack welded as at 4| after the assembly and installation. Ihe shoe 36 working in the trackway 35 effects a rise and fall to the stem 31 for the unseating and seating of the plug l3, as will be apparent. The flat face shoe 36 relieves any tendency of the same from digging in the trackway in the rotary member 33 at the open and closed points of the plug l3 when maximum power is applied and thereby oifering less wear, easy turning of the rotary member and no tendency to score or dig into the trackway in the working of the valve as would be the case if the shoe were of round contour.

This basin [8 communicates The stem 21 has an upper threaded end 42 and on this end is threaded an adjusting nut 43, the reduced upper portion thereof being diagonally kerfed at 44 so that the said nut when adjusted to the correct position on the threaded end of the stem 42 will thread lock at that position. The top of the adjusting nut 43 is given a slight bevel as shown at 45 for a jambing action through the association of a lock nut 46 carried by the threaded end 42 of the stem 21. When the lock nut 45 is jambed against the upper part of the adjusting nut it prevents any possibility of movement of either the adjusting nut or the lock nut in the stem, the kerf 44 in the adjusting nut is effective to act as a spring washer to prevent the lock-nut 45 from loosening.

The rotary member 33 is socketed for accommodating the adjusting nut 43 and also has threaded therein a retaining ring 41 for the coupling of the adjusting nut 43 and the rotary member together with a sliding fit.

The rotary member 33 above the head 32 is formed with external gear teeth 48 for meshing with a worm gear 49 fixed to a power shaft 50 journaled in bearings El and such power shaft 50 is fitted with a hand wheel 52 for manual turning of the said shaft.

In Figure 7 of the drawings there is shown a slight modification wherein the plug 53 has the lower headed end 54 of the stem 55 loosely coupled thereto by a cross pin 56 fitting said plug and stem head as shown.

Splined or keyed to the stem 21 is an indicator arm 5'! to coact with the yoke 31 for limiting the rotation of the valve plug 54 in either direction and at the same time giving visible indication of the position of the said plug I4 within the body l0 of the valve.

The adjusting nut 43 in association with the lock nut 45 permits of the adjustment of the stem 2'! in the rotary member 33 as will be apparent. The trackway 3-5 in the rotary member 33 by reason of its formation enables a continuous rise and fall to the stem 27 for the easy and quick opening and closing of the valve plug [3, and the shoes 36 by reason of their formation prevent any digging in of this trackway or excessive Wear therebetween, it being apparent that, in addition to turning, the plug l 3 has an upward and downward movement both in the opening and closing of the valve and thus a positive seating of the plug l3 will be assured thereby.

The plug l3 and the stem 21 by reason of the loose connection therebetween and being made in two pieces assures play so that some slight centering action can be obtained when the plug has been forced down into the seats in the valve body for assuring proper seating of the said plug. It is of course understood that in lieu of the use of two or more shoes 36 a single shoe can be employed, this being so when constructing small valves.

The raising of the seating surfaces I5 in the body H] for the plug I 3 as has heretofore been stated establishes clearances l6 between such plug and the body so as to permit the blowing out of any accumulations that might collect Within the valve and this is effected by introducing steam or inert vapor through the apertures 2| on removal of the plugs 22 and opening the aperture l9 by removal of the plug 23. Also through these apertures 2| pressure circulation could be established and held by vapor, liquid or grease, and thus the plug could be sealed from the body against line leakage. These raised seating surfaces enables true grinding thereof and also to relieve accumulation of corrosion or erosion which might adhere to the plug surface in the use of the valve. The basin i8 can be drained through the opening 19 therein on removal of the plug 20. Other advantages by reason of the detail construction of the valve will be had both in the production and the operation of said valve.

What is claimed is:

1. In a valve of the plug type having a stem extending into a bonnet thereon, a gear keyed on the stem rotatably mounted in the bonnet having a centrally disposed recess in the upper surface and a hub integral therewith and extending therefrom, said hub having a circumferential arcuate cam groove in the peripheral surface, shoes adjustably mounted in the bonnet extending into the groove in the hub coacting therewith to actuate the valve stem axially, and a worm gear rotatably mounted in the bonnet meshing with said gear and having an actuating handwheel.

2. In a valve of the plug type having a stem extending into a bonnet thereon, a gear keyed on the stem rotatably mounted in the bonnet having a centrally disposed recess in the upper surface and a downwardly extending hub integral REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,921,846 Sparks Aug. 8, 1933 2,315,058 Holt Mar. 30, 1943 2,314,759 Bischoff Mar. 23, 1943 2,327,425 Hilker Aug. 24, 194 1,894,196 Reed Jan. 10, 1933 2,125,810 Reed Aug 2, 1938 

